Knitting, Crocheting and comments about life

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Happy National Crochet Month! I am so excited to be apart of the Crochetville’s 2014 National Crochet Month Designer Blog Tour! What an amazing time when many crochet designers come to together to celebrate what we love to do. Crochet is a unique art that is not only gorgeous but portable and super fun. It can tap into creative parts of your brain you never knew existed. I started crocheting after developing a love for handmade items I kept seeing. So while my boyfriend (now husband) at the time was in the hospital recovering from a splenectomy, I grabbed my first H hook and skein of yarn coupled with a Leisure Arts “I Can Teach Myself How to Crochet in One Day” and started my journey.

My journey has been more fulfilling than I could have ever imagined. Crochet has helped me to not only be creative, but has helped me finish grad school as I crocheted in class to help stay focused on what the teacher was saying, start my first creative career selling finished items on Etsy and then developed into my current career as an independent designer with a successful shop on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/designers/suzy-allen ).

Many ask me how do I find and stay inspired, so join me in my journey as I share with you what inspires me:

Also, the lines, the natural lace, branches, flowers and water features add a multitude of depth to inspire the crocheter. Many a stitch patterns have been chosen or developed after a trip to the park. Color plus texture equals a great fabric making a great canvas for design. To see how I took this inspiration and made it into designs. I will be posting a collection in my Ravelry Shop today! Check it out!

Runway:

This trip for inspiration is as close as your computer as you google crochet fashion to see the latest runway fashions or taking a walk through your local mall. Crochet has been an integral part of the fashion world since its inception. Crochet lace, creative placement of motifs and accessories are everywhere this season. A great place to see this is by taking a trip to your local Anthroplogie, J.Crew, and Free People. I often find inspiration for home décor by perusing the catalogs of Pottery Barn, Urban Outfitters and Williams and Sonoma. Luckily, I live close to New York City as well so the streets of the city also serve as my own personal runway show full of inspiration.

Friends/LYS/Crochet Social Media:

Another great source of inspiration for me is getting involved in the supportive community that is the crochet world. My LYS, (local yarn shop), my local guild chapter (http://www.tkga.com/members/?id=16714646) , Ravelry (www.ravelry.com ), Facebook and of course Crochetville (http://crochetville.com/ ). I’d encourage you if your looking for inspiration to find a local yarn shop that supports and encourages crocheting. I’m very lucky to have one at The Village Knitter (http://villageknitter.com/ ). I love watching my friends creating awesome projects with gorgeous yarn. Often times, when one of us does a project inspires others to do the same.

As the Vice President of my local chapter of TKGA and CGOA, the Eastern Long Island Knitters Guild (http://www.tkga.com/members/?id=16714646) we try to bring in programming that is inspiring and encouraging people to continue their journey in needlework. Not only do I participate in my chapter, I also visit other chapters to either volunteer, collaborate on a project or gain inspiration as well.

Social media can link crocheters from around the world, Ravelry, Facebook, Twitter and of Crochetville has helped me to link up with other like-minded people to help celebrate and share my love of Crochet. Here you can often find a way to get involved with crochet related charities such as Halos for Hope website link , Facebook page . To help out all crochet hat patterns in my shop are 50% off (Code: ch2)

Lastly, taking classes at my favorite Crochet related show is a great way to ignite your inspiration. I have taken many a great classes with the greats of Crochet such as Marly Bird, Lily Chin, Melissa Leapman, Robyn Chachula and more. I am proud to announce that this summer at the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, NH I will be teaching for the first time on a national level. I would love to have you join me for Color Theory and Healthy Hands. (http://www.knitandcrochetshow.com/ ) (http://www.knitandcrochetshow.com/pdf/2014-KCS-Classes-At-A-Glance.pdf )

For more great inspiration: check out National Crochet Month blog tour http://crochetville.com/blog/ . Also be on the look out for an ebook by all the designers on the blog tour with a great Spring Garden theme. Thank you to all the great people at Crochetville and CGOA. Thank you for being awesome !

Hi Everyone
Thank you so much for your interest in my blog lately. Views have gone threw the rough. I would love to share some more of my designs with you. Follow my craftsy shop and receive a coupon for a free pattern.http://www.craftsy.com/user/pattern/store/494848
Thanks again for your support!
Suzy

Another great preemie hat to knit for charity or your favorite little preemie. Sized to fit a preemie from 2 and half lbs to 4 lbs. Super stretchy and versatile. Pattern may be used to give as gifts and charity but pattern may not be sold and items made from this pattern may not be sold.

Pattern: Ridged baby cap

Yarn: 1 skein of sport weight baby yarn

Skill Level: advanced beginner

Estimated time to finish: 2 hours

Needle size: US 6 (4.0mm)

Gauge: 5 sts/in

Abbreviations:

Sts= stitches

Co= cast on

K= knit

P = purl

K2tog= knit two together

Pattern:

Co 44 sts

Being careful not to twist sts, place marker and join rnd

K1, p1, around for 4 rnds

Next Rnd:

Knit each st around for 5 rnds

Purl each st for 1 rnd

Repeat these last two rows 2 more times

Knit one more rnd

Decrease:

k 9, k2tog, around

k each st around

k8, k2tog

p each st around

k7, k2tog around

k6, k2tog around

k5, k2tog around

k4, k2tog around

k3, k2tog around

k2, k2 tog around

k1, k2tog around

k2 tog around

Leaving a long tail cut yarn and with a yarn needle thread through remaining sts and pull and weave in yarn

With all this talk of crochet this week on my blog, I figured I would share one of my favorite patterns in my Etsy and Craftsy shop that has actually just been revised and resized to incorporate a larger range of sizes. This hat is a great introduction to cabling in the crochet world. It uses a basic front post double crochet (fpdc) for a dramatic effect.

So what yarn would I use… There are many options for this hat and it iactually a great stashbuster if you have a skein or two left of yarn after making a larger project. It uses worsted weight yarn (CYCA 4) some suggestions are:

I am not sure about you but every where I look crochet is back. The lacy and airy knits of last year gave way to the year of the hook! The best part is even knitters want to look like they are crocheting. Crocheting isn’t hard at all. I actually think it is easier. Lacey openwork in crochet is so much easier as crochet.

Ask you local crocheter to help you learn ! I know i have many friends in cue!

Do you like to crochet? Leave a comment. If there are more than 5 comments I will post a free crochet pattern.

Well… its almost midnight and I am finally done with my taxes. Boy do I dislike doing them especially when I have knitting and crochet deadlines…oh yeah and I owe money 😦 . But the good news is I should be back on the blog train soon. I have so much to tell you about. First my VT vacation yarn crawl, then a trip to the Martha Stewart Show and then a NYC yarn/craft walk. What have you all been up to? :Love to hear about it and whats on your needles?

This time of the year, the sap is usually flowing in the state of Vermont. The spring is characterized by warm days and cold nights which makes for some good sugaring. This year unfortunately the sap stopped running early and so I was not able to boil with my favorite sugar maker himself Lyman Churchill.

However for Easter we were able to participate in sugar on snow. For me this is the fourth time ever for Cait it was her first. It’s a very unique experience and if you can find a place to do it …. It’s well worth your while! ( btw Morse’s Sugar Farm in Montpelier VT serves it on Saturday’s through April from 12-4)

Here are the instructions on how to do it from true Vermonters, Eva Bapp, Quint Bapp and Rhoda Bedell.

2 quarts of grade b amber fresh maple syrup

Heat in pot to medium heat, bring to a boil. Reduce heat so it just simmers take a spoon after about 20 minutes and pour syrup back in pot until it makes a thread or use a candy thermometer until it reads 230 degrees farenheit. Pour a little bit of time to form little threads over a pan of frozen snow. If you want it for Easter it’s important to plan ahead to have it available especially because this winter was warm. This recipe is for a large crowd but with the leftovers you can make maple butters and candies as well. I hope you enjoy and happy eating!!!